<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> ← Previous Season 11 Next → Season 13 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> List of Criminal Minds episodes </Td> </Tr> <P> The twelfth season of Criminal Minds was ordered on May 6, 2016, by CBS with an order of 22 episodes . The season premiered on September 28, 2016 and ended on May 10, 2017 . </P> <P> The entire main cast from the previous season returned for the season, except Shemar Moore (Derek Morgan), who left the show during the eleventh season . </P>

When did season 12 of criminal minds start