Get your British Journal of Criminology paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
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Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 30 July, 2026
Submitting to British Journal of Criminology goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the British Journal of Criminology guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
It is a manuscript shell aligned to British Journal of Criminology. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the British Journal of Criminology journal page before you draft.
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the British Journal of Criminology guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the British Journal of Criminology guide for authors before you submit.
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through the journal's editorial office.
| Element | Br J Criminol requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | 120 words maximum, unstructured |
| Main text | Articles: 8,000-10,000 words (including abstract, tables/figures/notes/appendices and references). Articles longer than 10,000 words will not be considered |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | 3-6 keywords required |
| References | Harvard system (author-date format, e.g. Garland 1981: 41-2). References listed alphabetically with journal names in full |
| Peer review | Double-blind (anonymized) - reviewed anonymously by at least two reviewers, authors and reviewers remain anonymous |
| Submission | Email: bjc@editorialoffice.co.uk |
Read the British Journal of Criminology guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to British Journal of Criminology in under a page.
Skim two or three recent Br J Criminol papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the British Journal of Criminology journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Do one focused pass against the British Journal of Criminology guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through the journal's editorial office.