The peer review process

Procedure for reviewing submitted articles

1. Each article published in the Bulletin of Criminology must receive positive reviews from two independent reviewers.
2. Each submitted article is initially verified by the editors to the extent to which it meets the editorial requirements and its subject matter is related to the topics covered by the Bulletin of Criminology or to the extent to which it is a response to a call for papers.
3. The editorial board appoints reviewers from the list of regular reviewers published on the journal’s website. In exceptional cases, a reviewer may be selected from outside the list of regular reviewers.
4. Reviewers must not be affiliated with the academic institution at which the author works and must not have close personal ties with the author.
5. The review is based on the principle of double secrecy: the name of the author is not known to the reviewer, nor is the name of the reviewer known to the author and the other reviewer.
6. The reviewer shall consider the following elements during the review:
   1. whether the article meets the standards of a scholarly text, namely
      • whether the title of the article is consistent with its content;
      • whether the text is clear and does not contain contradictions;
      • whether conclusions drawn by the author are based on data provided in the text or on original research;
      • the research methodology used by the author is correct;
      • whether the text is original and contains new information; and
      • whether the content takes into account the latest scientific knowledge and research;
   2. whether the text has not previously been published in whole or in substantial part in another publication by the author or another person; and
   3. whether there are no other objective obstacles to the publication of the text (e.g. whether other standards of honesty, conscientiousness, or reliability in conducting scientific research) have not been violated.
7. The review should be neutral and objective. It should contain a clear conclusion as to whether the text should be published in the Bulletin of Criminology.
8. The reviewer may suggest to the author that changes or additions be made or that the text be shortened.
9. The review is submitted to the editorial office electronically. It may be prepared as a separate document or as notes placed directly on the text.
10. The review should be completed within a maximum of 3 months of receiving the text for review.