Plagiarism Policy

Semar: Journal of Community Service applies a strict policy against plagiarism and unethical publication practices. All submitted manuscripts are subject to plagiarism screening before entering the peer review process.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

  • Copying part or all of another person’s work without proper citation.

  • Using ideas, data, or results of others without appropriate acknowledgment.

  • Self-plagiarism, i.e., reusing one’s own previously published work without proper citation.

  • Duplicate or substantially similar publication of previously published content.

2. Plagiarism Screening

  • All manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software (such as iThenticate or equivalent tools).

  • The similarity index is used as an initial indicator, not as the sole basis for editorial decisions.

  • Editors may conduct further assessment of plagiarism reports when necessary.

3. Similarity Threshold

As a general guideline:

  • A similarity index of ≤ 25% may be considered acceptable, provided there is no substantial plagiarism.

  • A similarity index of > 25% may result in revision requests or immediate rejection, depending on the severity.

  • Direct quotations, references, and standard methodology descriptions may be excluded from the main similarity calculation.

4. Actions in Cases of Plagiarism

If plagiarism is identified:

  • Minor plagiarism → manuscript returned for revision.

  • Moderate plagiarism → manuscript rejected and author notified.

  • Severe plagiarism → manuscript rejected and authors may be prohibited from future submissions.

5. Retraction Policy

Articles found to violate plagiarism ethics after publication may:

  • Be formally retracted by the journal.

  • Be clearly marked as retracted with an explanatory notice.

  • Remain accessible for scholarly record purposes with a retraction status.

6. Author Appeal

Authors have the right to submit explanations or appeals regarding editorial decisions related to plagiarism. The final decision rests with the editorial board.