Scales of justice: The vetting of former East German police and teachers in Saxony, 1990-1993

East Germany's transition to democracy was accompanied by extensive vetting in the public sector to examine individuals' past ties to the SED and the Stasi. In delegating the task to the state level, the particular social and political contexts of implementation became paramount. Differences resulted both between the new Lander and across professional groups. Such outcomes are particularly evident in the cases of teachers and police. Compared to the other Lander, Saxony earned the reputation for being quite harsh when it came to vetting individuals. Micro-level actors and policy-making at the state level are important for understanding these varied outcomes.