How does River Song keep escaping from prison?

Question

Okay, so we know that River Song escapes from her prison cell on a routine basis, and goes gallivanting around the universe. As I've heard it put, she basically just uses the prison cell as her apartment in time-space.

How is it though that she keeps getting out of her cell? We've seen her use at least one trick (the hallucinogenic lipstick). I would think though that any given trick would only work once or twice, MAAAAYBE thrice if she got lucky.

So how does she keep getting out?

KutuluMike · Accepted Answer

Her routine escapes from prison aren't ever explained; note, however, that from the viewer's (and The Doctor's) perspectives, she just committed the act that got her arrested in the first place. So perhaps this upcoming season we'll see more of it.

However, based on the hints that are dropped throughout the seasons, I think it's a combination of two things:

She's very good at being a thief.

She's good at "social engineering"; she manages to escape with her hallucinogenic
lipstick even when the guard was prepared for it in advance.
She's shown breaking into very secure facilities (museums, etc) on a routine basis.
She's got access to some pretty advanced technology.
I'm just speculating, but I suspect she's got a lot of "inside" contacts; some
may even know parts of the truth and be sympathetic to her situation.

She's got The Doctor.

Most of her off-screen escapes from prison are to spend time with The Doctor, who
knows that she's unquestionably innocent. It would be totally in character for him 
to aid her escapes.
Somehow she gets back into her cells almost as soon as she escapes. Note that
during opening scene to The Pandorica Opens, she's strolling back into her cell while
the alarm warning of her escape is still sounding. That smacks of a time travel
device being very close by.

Three Fingered Jack · Answer

I think the apartment answer is closer to truth than a joke. I always assumed after watching that River was in prison by her own choice, as self punishment for her crime.

As to the actual mechanics- she is a cunning agent, with access to temporal technology, trained from an early age for her mission. I expect she makes arrangements for her next few escapes before allowing herself to be captured each time.

CAA · Answer

First of all: Wibbly wobbly

The Doctor said at the very end of the season to Dorium Maldovar, that River Song is in prison by day only...

So maybe on the one side she is in prison for killing him - but also gets her freedom every now and then, by the one she killed.

eidylon · Answer

Rewatching "The Wedding of River Song", and at the end, The Doctor is talking with the blue guy's head, who asks The Doctor:

"And Doctor Song, in prison all of her days?"

To which The Doctor replies:

"Her days, yes. Her nights... well that's between her and me, eh?"

So yes, apparently he was taking her out and about on a routine basis!  :)

Ordeiberon · Answer

A few of the later shorts actually show some of the events of his visiting her at night,

http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Night_and_the_Doctor

How does River Song keep escaping from prison?

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