The Wyman v. Rothstein case in 1969 involved the Commissioner of Social Services of New York and a welfare recipient, Mrs. Rothstein. The issue at hand was whether home visits by social workers constituted an unreasonable search under the Fourth Amendment rights to privacy. Mrs. Rothstein had refused such a visit, leading to her benefits being terminated as it violated state regulations requiring recipients' cooperation with investigations into their eligibility for aid. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Wyman (the Commissioner), stating that these home visits were not searches within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment because they were meant to be more rehabilitative than investigative and did not involve law enforcement officers or criminal prosecutions. Furthermore, they argued that while individuals do have a right to privacy in their homes, this does not extend so far as preventing all government access; especially when receiving public assistance which requires some level of accountability and oversight from authorities.

In the case of Wyman v. Rothstein, Justice William O. Douglas dissented from the majority opinion that upheld home visits by welfare officials as not violating Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures. He argued that these visits were indeed a form of search because they involved government intrusion into private homes for investigative purposes without consent or warrant, which he believed was unconstitutional regardless of whether it was done in good faith or with benign intent. Furthermore, he contended that such practices could lead to abuses and invasions of privacy if left unchecked by legal safeguards like requiring probable cause or judicial oversight before conducting home inspections. In his view, the poor should not have to sacrifice their constitutional rights just to receive public assistance.