The seventh season of Criminal Minds premiered on CBS in the United States on September 21, 2011.[1] Both A. J. Cook and Paget Brewster were rehired by CBS to reprise their roles as Jennifer Jareau and Emily Prentiss.[2][3] On February 15, 2012, Deadline Hollywood reported that Paget Brewster (Emily Prentiss) would leave the series, definitively, once season seven was over. All the other main actors on the show secured deals to return for the eighth season.[4] The two-hour season finale, which took place on May 16, 2012, reveals Prentiss deciding to leave the BAU.[5]
On March 14, 2012, CBS renewed Criminal Minds for an eighth season, which aired on September 26, 2012.[6]