(RALEIGH) -- Anti-death penalty groups say just three people were sentenced to die for their crimes in North Carolina last year, contributing to the lowest number of death sentences nationally in 40 years. The NC Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty reports defendants in Johnston, Iredell and Forsyth counties received the death penalty in 2014.

In 2013, one person was sentenced to death, and in 2012, no one was. Gretchen Engel, who heads the Center for Death Penalty Litigation, says people are questioning the need for the death penalty with a declining crime rate.

"Ironically, in this period where North Carolina has had eight years of no executions, our crime rate has steadily been declining, violent crime included. Part of it is this idea of, 'Why do we need the death penalty?"

The Death Penalty Information Center reports the number of new death sentences nationally for 2014 was 72, the lowest level since 1974. Nationwide, executions were carried out in seven states, down from nine in 2013.