The 13th season of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit debuted on NBC on September 21, 2011, and concluded on May 23, 2012. With Law & Order: LA and Law & Order: Criminal Intent having ended in May 2011 and June 2011 respectively, this season of Law & Order: SVU was broadcast without any other running U.S. Law & Order series.
Season 13 dealt with the departure of Detective Elliot Stabler from the Special Victims Unit after a shooting in the squad room. Additionally, Warren Leight became the executive producer / showrunner for the series replacing Neal Baer who began working on a CBS medical drama.