LEWISTON — Officials will consider amending the city’s curfew ordinance that would require juveniles to be off the streets from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights, two hours earlier than now.

Councilor Eryn Soule-Leclair forwarded the proposal, saying it is directly related to the recent uptick in gun violence in downtown Lewiston, and the involvement of local youth. She mentioned the potential change during a recent council workshop with police Chief David St. Pierre. The idea came in response to information shared by St. Pierre that guns had been retrieved from minors during recent nighttime patrols.

“It’s a small change with the potential to have big results,” Soule-Leclair said Friday. “With the increase of guns and violence among our local youth, the additional four hours a week is another tool” for the Police Department.

According to the ordinance language, exemptions are in place if a minor is accompanied by their parent, in the course of their employment, participating in a school activity, and more. City ordinance violations come with a civil summons issued to the juvenile’s parent or guardian, and a fine.

Police Lt. Derrick St. Laurent said Friday that he believes the department would support the change. He said officers use the curfew as “an education tool.”

He said it’s mostly used as a way to bring juveniles home and counsel parents on the rules. He said often parents don’t realize their child is out or believe they were at a friend’s house.

“We deal with it that way at first, but if we get repeat offenders it’s a good tool to use,” he said, adding that it could be a way to “stop an incident before something’s going to happen.”

But, he said, an earlier curfew doesn’t mean the police will be “out there looking for people, asking a bunch of questions.”

A month ago, police and city officials announced a plan to reduce gun violence in the city after a string of shooting incidents. The plan included putting more law enforcement on the streets, engaging the community, including youth and parents, and pursuing changes that could assist a backlogged judicial system.