Legal analysis: Yes, you can read and study freely in prison, but you can't ban books. According to relevant laws and regulations, prisons encourage prisoners to study by themselves, actively create conditions and organize prisoners to participate in various vocational and technical education and training. Prisoners can study independently and apply for the qualification of self-examination. There will be examination centers in the prison and they can take the examination then.

Legal basis: Measures for the Administration of Criminal Execution in Detention Center

Article 74 A conditional detention center shall set up classrooms, conversation rooms, recreation and sports rooms, libraries, reading rooms, audio-visual classrooms, psychological consultation rooms and other educational reform places, and be equipped with necessary facilities.

Article 78 A detention center shall, according to different situations, provide cultural education to prisoners and encourage them to learn by themselves. Criminals can take the self-study examination for higher education held by the state, and detention centers should provide convenience for criminals to study and take the examination.