It is harder though to conduct a long distance job search - harder, but not impossible. The decision to relocate is an opportunity to focus on goals, aspirations, and re-definition of your career and lifestyle. Concentrate on the skills that you enjoy using most and then develop a list of fields and industries that you know you can best demonstrate your abilities. Without knowing details on your oilfield and corrections experience it would seem that they are very different areas. Before you seek a position you need to know what you want and what you have to offer prospective employers.
Books are a good source of information about the job search.
There are numerous books available covering the entire job search spectrum from assessing your skills, writing resumes, networking, interviewing, cover letters, and telephone skills. Try your local library for resources before you purchase books at a bookstore. You can find valuable resources at libraries free of charge. It is important to practice doing telephone interviews. Get a friend to help with this.