The task force was funded by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, with the mandate to solve open homicide cases. A process and outcome study was conducted to determine the feasibility of the task force approach and its impact. Evaluation results indicated the task force was implemented in close accord with its design. The task force complimented ongoing investigations and routine attempts to solve homicides and other serious crimes. The task force investigated 38 individual homicides and made 30 arrests that led to 16 convictions. During the life of the task force, violent crime in the city of Kankakee significantly declined. Community perceptions of crime, police response, and task force activities are examined, and implications of a task force approach to criminal investigations are discussed. Supporting data and the evaluation questionnaire are appended. 12 tables and 18 figures