Nishat (Bella) Tabassum

Nishat (Bella) Tabassum is a native New Yorker, bred in the Bronx. She is currently an Executive Agency Counsel with the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), where she prosecutes members of the NYPD for egregious misconduct. Prior to CCRB, Bella was a cross designated Assistant Corporation Counsel and Assistant District Attorney at the New York City Law Department, in the Bronx focusing on juvenile delinquency matters. 

Prior to attending law school Bella was a Program Assistant at Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and General Violence. In her role, she developed curriculum for the NYC Healthy Relationship Academy, develop programming for young people on the issue of gender violence and healthy relationships. Bella worked extensively with young people that are at the intersection of the foster care and criminal justice system. 

Bella is passionate about juvenile justice issues. As a first-generation immigrant, she has focused on addressing inequity and access in her both professionally and personally. She was the former Youth Chair and Vice President of the Bronx Young Democrats. 

In her roles, she focused on developing financial literacy and mentorship programs for young people in the Bronx. Bella is also active in the New York Bar Association City Affairs Committee, Women in the Law Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Muslim American Bar Association of New York. 

Bella holds a B.A in Political Science with a minor in Gender Students from Hunter College. She earned her Juris Doctorate from CUNY School of Law and her Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Management & Innovation from Columbia University.