Lyric discussion by infallible 

Cover art for In State lyrics by Kathleen Edwards

Nice find about it being a prequel to Six O'Clock News. I think it's pretty clear that the guy she's singing about is a criminal. Probably more of a low-rent petty one than some connected mobster, though. She's contemplating/threatening to turn him in to the police if he doesn't change on his own. Hence that "her face" couldn't make him give it up, but maybe some hard time will.

Song Meaning