Hartford, Conn. ? State attorneys general nationwide are demanding that Craigslist remove its adult services section because they say the website cannot adequately block potentially illegal ads.

Several attorneys general, including Connecticut, Ohio and Missouri, announced Tuesday that they have sent a joint letter calling on the classified advertising website to get rid of its adult services category. A total of 17 states are involved.

The attorneys general say Craigslist is not completely screening out ads that promote prostitution and child trafficking. The site creators pledged in 2008 to improve their policing efforts.

Other states joining the effort:

• Arkansas
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Montana
• New Hampshire
• Rhode Island,
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Virginia

San Francisco-based Craigslist did not immediately return a call.