diff --git a/submitr/validators/__init__.py b/submitr/validators/__init__.py
index e50d58f641..fd90e4cdfb 100644
--- a/submitr/validators/__init__.py
+++ b/submitr/validators/__init__.py
@@ -10,3 +10,4 @@
 import submitr.validators.tissue_sample_external_id_validator  # noqa
 import submitr.validators.dsa_haplotype_validator  # noqa
 import submitr.validators.ont_unaligned_reads_validator  # noqa
+import submitr.validators.released_item_validator  # noqa
diff --git a/submitr/validators/released_item_validator.py b/submitr/validators/released_item_validator.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..db8abbe8d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/submitr/validators/released_item_validator.py
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+from dcicutils.structured_data import StructuredDataSet
+from submitr.validators.decorators import structured_data_validator_finish_hook
+
+# Validator that reports any released items that are being modified
+
+# NOTE: (WF) This check probably should not be a validator and would likely work
+# best incorporated into the existing diff check. Running compare() takes some
+# time, so probably best to not run it again
+# NOTE: This code relies on an update to dcicutils where the diffs include
+# the status of the existing items.
+
+# TODO: Update this to not only check for released items, but other items
+# that cannot be modified
+_RELEASED = "released"
+
+@structured_data_validator_finish_hook
+def _released_item_validator(structured_data: StructuredDataSet, **kwargs) -> None:
+
+    diffs = structured_data.compare()
+
+    for object_type in diffs:
+        for object_info in diffs[object_type]:
+            if object_info.uuid:
+                if object_info.diffs:
+                    if object_info.status == _RELEASED:
+                        structured_data.note_validation_error(
+                            f"{object_info.path} is not permitted to be modified because"
+                            f" it is {_RELEASED} item. Please double-check this."
+                        )