Editorial - Preprint and postprint in scientific publications and in Law: Discussions and measures to open science and research communication

Abstract

Recently, the Brazilian Journal of Criminal Procedure has changed its editorial policies to allow and encourage the submission of manuscripts in preprint and postprint servers, in accordance with guidelines from COPE and Scielo. The goal of this modification is to improve the publicity, transparency and celerity of scientific results communication. Based on bibliographical review, the current editorial aims to analyze some aspects of this scientific practice, such as its origin, definition, benefits and problems, focusing on the Legal Sciences - especially the Criminal Sciences. The conclusion is that the increased use of preprints provides new perspectives to the scientific production and editing, contributing to the consolidation of open science practices. The risks and benefits must be carefully weighted, but the potential advantages of preprints - such as faster dissemination of results and the possibility of wider debate and research improvement before the definitive publication - prevail.