- For authors
- ISSN 2692-5915
- Open access · CC BY 4.0
Instructions for Authors
How to prepare and submit a manuscript to the Journal of Advanced Forensic Sciences: submission routes, article types, manuscript structure, forensic reporting requirements, ethics statements and fees.
Submission routes
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Primary route
The publisher's online submission and review system. Register or sign in, choose the Journal of Advanced Forensic Sciences and upload the manuscript files.
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Alternative route
Simple manuscript submission form
A single-page form that opens with the Journal of Advanced Forensic Sciences selected.
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Assisted route: editorial email
For authors who are unable to use either online route. Send the manuscript files with a cover letter to the editorial office.
Authors must use only one submission route for the same manuscript.
Article types
JAFS publishes the article types below. Requirements depend on the format: hypotheses, performance measures, sample-size justification and a Methods and Results structure apply where the design calls for them. The scope of each type is set out in the Aims and Scope.
Original Research
Empirical studies in any forensic discipline, including experimental, observational, casework-based, population and reliability studies.
- Abstract
- Structured: Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions.
- Main text
- Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions. State the research question and, where applicable, the hypotheses, the sample and how it was selected, how evidence was handled, the statistical approach and the sample-size justification.
- Reporting
- The guideline for the design, for example STROBE, CONSORT, STARD or ARRIVE.
Method Validation Study
Development, validation or verification of a forensic analytical, imaging or computational method, with the performance data that show it is fit for its purpose.
- Abstract
- Structured, with headings adapted to the method.
- Main text
- Rationale; a description of the method with the detail, code or materials others need to apply it; the validation design and the performance measures that apply, such as accuracy, precision, repeatability, reproducibility, sensitivity, specificity, limits of detection, robustness and measurement uncertainty; comparison with existing approaches where available; scope of use and limitations.
- Reporting
- Name the standards or guidelines the validation followed, for example SWGDAM or OSAC documents, where applicable.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Systematic syntheses of evidence on a defined forensic question, with or without meta-analysis. Scoping reviews that use systematic methods are included.
- Abstract
- Structured.
- Main text
- Introduction; Methods (eligibility criteria, information sources and the full search strategy, study selection, data extraction, risk-of-bias assessment and synthesis); Results with a flow diagram; Discussion. Give the protocol registration, for example in PROSPERO, where applicable.
- Reporting
- PRISMA 2020; PRISMA-ScR for scoping reviews.
Review
Narrative, critical and methodological reviews of a body of forensic literature. A Mini-Review is a shorter Review that focuses on a recent development or a defined question.
- Abstract
- Brief, structured or unstructured.
- Main text
- Free structure with descriptive headings. State how the literature was identified, assess the strength of the evidence and not only its volume, and end with conclusions and open questions that follow from the review.
- Reporting
- Reference the evidence for each claim.
Short Communication
A concise report of a focused or preliminary finding of forensic importance.
- Abstract
- Brief, structured.
- Main text
- A condensed Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion centered on the main finding.
- Reporting
- As for Original Research, where applicable.
Technical Note
A concise description of a technique, instrument, procedure or software tool, with evidence that it works.
- Abstract
- Brief, unstructured.
- Main text
- Purpose; materials and procedure in enough detail to be repeated; performance evidence, such as test results on reference or case-like material; limitations and recommended use.
- Reporting
- Name the standards or guidelines followed, where applicable.
Data Note
A description of a dataset of forensic value, such as reference, population-frequency, image or signal data, to support its reuse.
- Abstract
- Brief, unstructured.
- Main text
- Background and rationale; data collection methods; description of the dataset (variables, format, coverage); quality control; data access, with the repository, persistent identifier and license; limitations for reuse. Analyses are limited to those that describe the data.
- Reporting
- Deposit the dataset in a recognized repository before submission, and follow the guideline for the original study design where applicable.
Case Report
An individual case or short case series with a lesson for forensic practice or research, such as an unusual finding or a technique applied to casework.
- Abstract
- Brief, unstructured.
- Main text
- Introduction; case presentation, with a timeline where useful; methods of examination; findings and interpretation; discussion of the lesson. Hypotheses and power calculations do not apply.
- Reporting
- CARE where the report concerns a clinical case. Consent for publication from the person concerned or a legal guardian, as required by law and institutional policy for decedents, or a waiver documented by the ethics committee, where applicable; identifying details removed.
Commentary
An evidence-based argument on a current forensic question or on published research. Perspectives and viewpoints are submitted as Commentaries.
- Abstract
- Brief, unstructured.
- Main text
- Free structure with descriptive headings; claims supported by cited evidence and conclusions proportionate to it. Methods and Results sections are not required.
- Reporting
- Reference the evidence for each claim.
Letter
A brief response to an article published in JAFS, or a short observation of forensic relevance.
- Abstract
- None.
- Main text
- Short text without section headings and with a small number of references. A letter about a published article cites it in full, and its authors may be invited to reply.
- Reporting
- Reference the article or evidence discussed.
Length. There are no fixed length limits for any article type; manuscripts should be concise and proportionate to their content.
Choosing a type. Where a manuscript sits between types, choose the closest type and explain the choice in the cover letter; the editors confirm the classification, and the type determines the article processing charge. A Mini-Review is classified as a Review, a scoping review as a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, and a short case series as a Case Report.
Preparing the manuscript
These requirements apply to every article type. The abstract and the structure of the main text follow the guidance for the type above, and statistical reporting applies only where the study design uses statistical analysis.
- Files
- The main text as an editable word-processing file (for example, Microsoft Word), with figures, tables that cannot be edited in the text, and supplementary material supplied as separate files.
- Title page
- A concise, informative title; full names, affiliations and ORCID iDs (recommended) of all authors; and the corresponding author's contact details.
- Double-blind review
- For double-blind review, remove author names, affiliations, acknowledgments, funding details, institution names, and other identifying information from the reviewer manuscript. Provide identifying information separately in the title-page file or submission form.
- Abstract
- As set for the article type above: structured, unstructured or none. The headings Background, Methods, Results and Conclusions are required for Original Research; other structured abstracts use headings suited to the article type.
- Keywords
- A short list of specific, searchable terms that name the evidence type, method and discipline.
- Statistics (where applicable)
- Where the study design uses statistical analysis, describe the statistical methods in enough detail for replication; report effect estimates with confidence intervals, give exact p-values where statistical tests are used, and name the software and version.
- Declarations
- Author contributions (CRediT), funding, conflicts of interest, ethics approval and consent where applicable, data availability and any use of AI tools.
- Cover letter
- States the article type and the forensic relevance of the work, confirms that the manuscript is not under consideration elsewhere, and notes any preprint and any request for double-blind review.
- Language
- Clear English, with abbreviations defined at first use.
Forensic requirements
These items apply where the study design calls for them, in addition to the requirements for the article type.
- Method validation
- Analytical studies report the validation parameters that apply, such as accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, limits of detection and measurement uncertainty, and name the guidelines followed.
- Evidence handling
- Research that uses case samples or exhibits describes how the evidence was collected, stored and documented, including chain-of-custody procedures where they apply.
- Blind testing
- Studies that evaluate examiner or algorithm performance state whether examiners were blind to ground truth and to contextual information.
- Error rates
- Studies of pattern and comparison evidence report false-positive and false-negative rates with confidence intervals, and discuss the factors that affect them.
- Interpretation and statistics
- State the approach used to evaluate the evidence, such as likelihood ratios or other evaluative reporting, the data and assumptions behind it, and the uncertainty of the result.
- Digital evidence
- Give the acquisition method, tools and versions used, and the verification of data integrity, for example by hash values.
- Images and data plots
- Forensic images include scale bars with units. Electropherograms show the full profile with size standards, and spectra show labeled peaks and name the reference libraries used.
Reporting guidelines
Report the study following the guideline that matches its design and upload the completed checklist as a supplementary file. The guidelines are available from the EQUATOR Network.
| Study design | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Randomized trials | CONSORT |
| Non-randomized evaluations of interventions | TREND |
| Observational studies (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional) | STROBE |
| Diagnostic and comparison accuracy studies | STARD |
| Systematic reviews and meta-analyses | PRISMA 2020 |
| Scoping reviews | PRISMA-ScR |
| Review and trial protocols | PRISMA-P; SPIRIT |
| Prediction models | TRIPOD |
| Qualitative research | SRQR or COREQ |
| Case reports | CARE |
| Animal research | ARRIVE 2.0 |
| Evaluative reporting of forensic findings | ENFSI Guideline for Evaluative Reporting in Forensic Science |
| Forensic method validation | The standards or guidelines the validation followed, for example SWGDAM or OSAC documents |
References, tables and figures
- Reference style
- Vancouver style, numbered in order of first citation. List up to six authors, then et al., and give a DOI or stable URL where one exists. Authors are responsible for the accuracy of references.
- Tables
- Numbered consecutively, each with a descriptive title; abbreviations and symbols explained in a footnote.
- Figures
- High resolution (at least 300 dpi) in TIFF, EPS, PNG or high-quality JPEG, with a caption for each figure and text that remains legible after reduction. Maps state their data sources.
- Supplementary files
- Numbered (for example, Supplementary Table S1), cited in the text and listed with short titles at the end of the manuscript. They are published as supplied, so they must be final and free of participant identifiers.
- Reused material
- Written permission from the copyright holder to reproduce or adapt published figures, tables or text, unless the material is already available under a license that permits reuse; the source is cited in the legend.
Reference examples
- Journal article
- Author AA, Author BB, Author CC. Title of the article. Journal Abbreviation. Year;Volume(Issue):pages. doi:10.xxxx/xxxxx
- Book
- Author AA, Author BB. Title of the book. Edition. Place of publication: Publisher; Year.
- Report or webpage
- Organization Name. Title of the report or page [Internet]. Place: Publisher; Year [cited Year Month Day]. Available from: URL
- Dataset
- Author AA, Author BB. Title of the dataset [dataset]. Version. Repository Name; Year. doi:10.xxxx/xxxxx
- Preprint
- Author AA, Author BB. Title of the preprint. Preprint Server Name [Preprint]. Year [cited Year Month Day]. doi:10.xxxx/xxxxx
- Trial registration
- Sponsor or Principal Investigator. Title of the trial. Registry Name. Registration number. Registered Month Day, Year. Available from: URL
Ethics and declarations
Each manuscript includes the statements below that apply to it. The full policies are set out in the Editorial Policies.
Human participants
The name of the approving ethics committee or institutional review board and the approval reference number, and confirmation of informed consent, or a waiver documented by the ethics committee, where applicable. Studies of anonymized or routinely collected data, human remains or casework records state whether ethics review was required and the legal authority or permission for the use of the material.
Clinical trials
Interventional clinical trials must be registered in an accepted public trial registry at or before the first participant provides consent for enrollment. The registry name, registration number, and registration date must be reported in the manuscript.
Animal research
Approval from the institutional animal care and use committee or animal ethics committee with its reference number, compliance with animal-welfare regulations and the 3Rs, and reporting in line with the ARRIVE guidelines.
Case Reports
Informed consent for publication from the person concerned or a legal guardian, or the authorization required by law and institutional policy for decedents, or a waiver documented by the ethics committee, where applicable, with identifying details removed.
Conflicts of interest and funding
All financial and non-financial interests of every author, each source of funding and the role of the funder.
Data availability
Every empirical research manuscript must include a data-availability statement. It explains where the data can be found or the conditions for access, including any restriction on casework, personal or legally protected data.
Use of AI tools
Any use of AI tools in writing, analysis or figure preparation, with the tool named and its use described. AI tools are not listed as authors.
Peer review and decisions
All submissions undergo initial editorial screening, including a similarity check with Crossref Similarity Check. Manuscripts that meet the journal's scope and minimum requirements proceed to independent peer review.
Single-blind by default; double-blind review is available on request.
Manuscripts that proceed to external peer review are normally evaluated by at least two independent subject-matter experts. Editorial decisions are based on scope, scientific quality, methodological rigor, ethical compliance, reporting quality, and relevance to the journal.
Revised manuscripts are accompanied by a point-by-point response to the reviewers' comments. After acceptance, authors check the proofs, and the article is published open access under CC BY 4.0 with a Crossref DOI.
Fees
USD 990–2,190 article processing charge, set by article type.
The charge is USD 1,890 for Original Research, USD 2,190 for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, USD 990 for Short Communication, and USD 1,200 for Method Validation Study, Review, Technical Note, Data Note, Case Report, Commentary and Letter. The article processing charge is payable only after acceptance; withdrawal after submission is subject to the journal's withdrawal policy.
No charge is made at submission. Fee-relief inquiries are considered case by case; contact the editorial office before or at submission. Full details are on the Article Processing Charges page.
Final checklist
A fuller checklist and the submission routes are on the Submit Manuscript page.
- The manuscript addresses a forensic question and uses one of the article types above.
- The title page, abstract, keywords and main text follow the guidance for the article type.
- For double-blind review, the reviewer manuscript is anonymized and identifying information is in the title-page file.
- Ethics approval, consent or waiver, and trial registration are reported where applicable.
- The completed reporting checklist and the validation details are attached where applicable.
- Declarations cover contributions, funding, conflicts of interest, data availability and AI use, and forensic evidence handling is described where it applies.
- Figures, tables and supplementary files are cited in the text, and permissions are in place for reused material.
- A cover letter accompanies the submission, which is made through one route only.
Author inquiries
Questions about preparing or submitting a manuscript can be sent to the editorial office at info@openaccesspub.org.