ALASKA has been dubbed America’s rape capital with stats showing nearly 120 reported cases for every 100,000 residents.

That’s nearly twice as many as in New Mexico and Montana, and seven times higher than New Jersey.

Campaigners and victims have pinpointed Alaska’s laws as being too lax when dealing with rapists – with numerous cases highlighting how outdated legislation is failing victims of violent crimes, including sexual assaults.

One such recent case involved Eagle River resident Justin Schneider, who drove an Alaskan woman to a dark street, warning that he would kill her.

He choked her until she blacked out and then carried out a sex act.

Although he was originally charged with kidnapping, the 34-year-old pleaded guilty to a single count of felony assault in a deal with prosecutors.

Schneider was sentenced last week to two years in prison, with one year suspended, according to Associated Press.

However, as he had already spent a year in home confinement, he left the courtroom with no more time to serve.

Alaska Governor Bill Walker has vowed to change state law that does not classify the assault carried out by Schneider as a sex crime.

But fuming victims’ advocates criticised it as another example of lenient sentencing for crimes against women despite the #MeToo movement.

Another horrific case involves 10-year-old Ashley Johnson-Barr, who disappeared from a playground on September 6.

Her body was discovered eight days later and according to a press release from the Alaska Department of Law, her autopsy “revealed signs of trauma including strangulation and sexual abuse”.

On Monday, Peter Wilson, 41, who is a relative of Johnson-Barr’s family, was accused of first degree murder, kidnapping, sexual abuse of a minor and tampering with evidence. He remains in custody after appearing in federal court.

Standing Together Against Rape (STAR) says that 73 per cent of sexual in Alaska are carried out by someone known by the victim, and that child sexual assault in the state is almost six times the national average, reports KTUU-TV in Anchorage.

Keeley Olson of STAR said that Alaska’s laws are failing victims of violent crimes: “We have the highest rate of child maltreatment across the board and sexual child abuse trends with that.”

She urged the government to pay more attention to victims and their families, rather than cutting costs.