In 2016, North Carolina passed the decade mark without an execution, tried just five people capitally in all 100 counties, and of those five, sent only one person to death row. As another year ends, North Carolina continues to reflect national trends, which clearly show the death penalty on the decline. Yet, despite the death penalty’s fade, North Carolina continues to cling to one relic of the death penalty’s past. With 150 men and women awaiting execution, North Carolina has the sixth largest death row in the nation — and most were sentenced more than 15 years ago.