diff --git a/src/slashing.rs b/src/slashing.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c843b61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/slashing.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+// src/slashing.rs
+//! Automated state flag mutation utility for validator slashing.
+//!
+//! This module introduces a simple slashing mechanism that marks validator nodes
+//! as `Status::Jailed` when they miss telemetry (heartbeat) checkpoints for a
+//! strict ceiling of 100 ledger blocks. The slashing state is stored separately
+//! from the existing `NodeProfile` to respect the requirement of not modifying
+//! other parts of the codebase.
+
+use soroban_sdk::{
+    contracttype, env::Env, Address, Symbol, BytesN, Map,
+};
+
+/// Status of a validator node in the slashing subsystem.
+#[contracttype]
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum Status {
+    /// The node is operating normally.
+    Active,
+    /// The node has been jailed due to prolonged inactivity.
+    Jailed,
+}
+
+/// Persistent storage key for node slashing status mapping.
+const SLASHED_NODES_KEY: Symbol = Symbol::short("SLASHED");
+
+/// Ledger block interval threshold for slashing (100 blocks).
+const SLASH_THRESHOLD_BLOCKS: u64 = 100;
+
+/// Record slashing status for a validator node.
+///
+/// This function checks the last heartbeat timestamp for the given `asset`
+/// (representing the telemetry feed associated with the validator). If the
+/// difference between the current ledger timestamp and the last recorded
+/// heartbeat exceeds `SLASH_THRESHOLD_BLOCKS * heartbeat_interval`, the node is
+/// marked as `Status::Jailed`.
+pub fn maybe_slash_node(env: &Env, node: &Address, asset: BytesN<32>) {
+    // Retrieve the last heartbeat timestamp for the asset.
+    let last_ts_opt: Option<u64> = super::TimeLockedUpgradeContract::get_last_update_timestamp(
+        env.clone(),
+        // Convert BytesN to AssetId (u32) – the contract uses `AssetId = u32`.
+        // For simplicity we assume the asset identifier fits within a u32.
+        // In real usage the caller should provide the appropriate AssetId.
+        // Here we truncate the BytesN to u32 via little‑endian conversion.
+        u32::from_le_bytes(asset.slice(0..4).try_into().unwrap_or([0; 4])),
+    );
+
+    // Determine the heartbeat interval configured for the contract.
+    let interval = super::TimeLockedUpgradeContract::get_heartbeat_interval(env.clone());
+    let current_ts = env.ledger().timestamp();
+
+    let should_jail = match last_ts_opt {
+        Some(last_ts) => {
+            // Calculate how many ledger blocks have passed since the last
+            // heartbeat. The contract does not expose block numbers directly,
+            // but the heartbeat interval (in seconds) can approximate blocks.
+            // We treat a "block" as one heartbeat interval.
+            let elapsed = current_ts.saturating_sub(last_ts);
+            // Convert elapsed seconds to block count.
+            let blocks_missed = if interval == 0 { 0 } else { elapsed / interval };
+            blocks_missed >= SLASH_THRESHOLD_BLOCKS
+        }
+        None => true, // No heartbeat at all ⇒ definitely jail.
+    };
+
+    if should_jail {
+        // Update the persistent map with the jailed status.
+        let mut status_map: Map<Address, Status> =
+            env.storage().persistent().get(&SLASHED_NODES_KEY).unwrap_or_else(|| Map::new(env));
+        status_map.set(node.clone(), Status::Jailed);
+        env.storage().persistent().set(&SLASHED_NODES_KEY, &status_map);
+    }
+}
+
+/// Retrieve the slashing status of a node.
+pub fn get_node_status(env: &Env, node: &Address) -> Status {
+    let map: Map<Address, Status> =
+        env.storage().persistent().get(&SLASHED_NODES_KEY).unwrap_or_else(|| Map::new(env));
+    map.get(node.clone()).unwrap_or(Status::Active)
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use soroban_sdk::{Env, testutils::Address as _, testutils::Ledger, Symbol};
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_jail_when_no_heartbeat() {
+        let env = Env::default();
+        env.mock_all_auths();
+        let node = Address::generate(&env);
+        let asset_bytes = BytesN::from_array(&env, &[0; 32]);
+        maybe_slash_node(&env, &node, asset_bytes);
+        assert_eq!(get_node_status(&env, &node), Status::Jailed);
+    }
+}